Black velvet dresses with long sleeves, slits and bare shoulders

Theater seats and family dinners in a velvet midi

The turtleneck midi works under a winter coat like a warm sweater. Wear it to a concert. The collar covers your neck, so let big earrings do the job a necklace usually does.

New Year’s Eve at your parents’ table is a good night for the V-neck midi. Its hem falls below the knee, and a long pendant on a thin chain sits nicely inside the V. There’s also a midi with a flared skirt that sways as you walk, and it’s quiet enough for the theater or a dinner with coworkers.

On the off-shoulder midi, soft drapes end in a side slit. Its three-quarter sleeves leave your wrist free for a watch or a thin bracelet.

Marbled velvet is the odd one out. That pleated midi has short sleeves, and the pleats open with every step.

A black velvet dress to the floor for a gala or a winter wedding

For a December wedding, pick the off-shoulder maxi. The long sleeves keep your arms warm while your shoulders stay bare, and your hair should go up. Planning to dance till late? Take the maxi with a leg slit. Wear stilettos with it, because they show every time the slit opens, and carry a metallic or patent clutch.

Then there’s the one-sleeve maxi. Skip the necklace.

Put the heels you’ve picked for the evening on before you try any long black velvet dress, since an inch or two of heel changes where the hem lands and how the skirt swings when you cross the room. We make all of these from XS to XL, and our M comes out at about a UK 10–12. Need more long options in this color? See the full-length black styles.

Short velvet for a date or a bar birthday

The velvet wrap mini measures 87 cm from the shoulder, and the wrap pulls it in at the waist. Sheer tights with a little shimmer and stilettos. Done.

The one-sleeve mini is all asymmetry and barely needs jewelry. A small chain bag, thin black tights, and you’re ready. If black feels too serious, the same fabric comes in velvet in other colors.

Frequently asked questions

Is black velvet okay at a winter wedding?

For an evening wedding, yes. Go long and keep the sleeves.

Where does the velvet wrap mini end?

Above the knee. The length from the shoulder is 87 cm.

How do I wash velvet at home?

Wrong side out, a delicate program, water no warmer than 30 °C. No wringing. It dries on a hanger far from the heater, and a steamer on the inside replaces the iron.

What if the event says formal?

Go long. A boat-neck velvet gown to the floor fits that brief, or browse our black evening wear for more formal options.